Getry Agizah, Coordinator for Friends Church Peace Team, recently spoke in the Living Witness of Friends Fall Conversation Series organized by Wilmington (Ohio) Friends Meeting, and open to all Friends over Zoom. Getry shared testimonies of her work in FCPT—a ministry born out of Kenyan Quakers’ response to the 2007 Kenyan election violence. FCPT continues to work to reduce violence and conflict in Kenya, whatever the causes may be. FCPT volunteers and staff have trained thousands of Kenyans in Alternatives to Violence, Healing and Rebuilding Our Communities, trauma healing, nonviolent social change, transformative mediation, and more. The Peace Team’s efforts were central to the quelling of violence between the 2007 and 2013 elections. They enabled displaced persons to move back to their homes. They worked to rebuild connections between neighbors of rival communities. The ongoing work done through this ministry literally removes the causes of war.
Read MoreDuring the General Board Meeting, FUM members received an update from the Planning Committee about the upcoming Triennial. The Planning Committee reported that plans are underway to host the 2023 Triennial in Kenya. Given plans for the joint gathering in 2020 were disrupted, invitations were issued to the United Society of Friends Women International and Quaker Men International to partner with FUM in the gathering. Both agreed.
Read MoreThe Psalmist says that, “it’s good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity. This attracts God’s blessing (Psalm 133). Our gathering together as FUM, QMI, and USFWI will touch God’s heart and cause as to have an open heaven with showers of blessing and at the end of the gathering each one of us will have a story of praise to the Lord.
Read MoreThe triennial theme is so relevant and captivating, “Come, Abide, Go”. These are words of Jesus Christ in the spirit of Gathering a special Community from ordinary people, Building and establishing them in the faith, and Releasing them in the world for Ministry work. Looking at Quakermen theme text, it paints a picture on how God is so committed and ready to partner with men in his ministry. The scriptures are so explicit that immediately Jesus begun his ministry he invited men to follow him “Come, follow me,” and “I will make you fishers of men.” (Matt. 4:19).
Read MoreThroughout our history, the people known as Friends (or Quakers) keep rediscovering an essential and enduring truth: There is one who speaks to our most basic needs and most significant hopes—Christ Jesus the Lord. Both individually and communally, we are learning to know and follow the Voice that guides us in the way we should go. Together, we seek to understand and obey that truth which sets us free. As a people, we share in the experience of that powerful life which makes all things new. Maybe you are searching for an authentic and transforming faith and community to call home—if so, come in and join us as we seek to know and follow Christ.
Friends United Meeting commits itself to energize and equip Friends through the power of the Holy Spirit to gather people into fellowships where Jesus Christ is known, loved, and obeyed as Teacher and Lord.